A lot of pre-Roman and Roman history to explore at Verulamium Museum, including some of the best mosaics outside the Mediterranean. The museum is just one part of a Roman day out in modern St Albans. A Short History of Verulamium The Roman city of Verulamium lies almost, but not quite, under the modern city […]
This extensive archaeological site within easy reach of central Budapest tells the story of the city’s origins and early history. Great for a half day’s exploration. Aquincum: Óbuda’s Hidden Gem On my recent long weekend in Budapest, I found there was more than enough in the city itself to satisfy my curiosity without any daytrips […]
The same complex in Budapest houses the Dohány Street Synagogue (Europe’s largest) and the Hungarian Jewish Museum and Archives. Together they document a community’s history, continuity and traditions in sometimes unexpected ways. Introduction In my last post, a long weekend guide to Budapest, I briefly discussed the history of Budapest’s Jewish community and some of […]
It’s that time of year again, when we explore London’s rich architectural history at the Open House Festival! Open House 2023 In a now well-embedded Salterton Arts Review tradition, this is the fourth year running that we have covered the Open House Festival. An annual event run by architectural organisation Open City, Open House sees […]
Londoners, the largest and most diverse botanical (and mycological) collections in the world are on your doorstep in the form of Kew Gardens! A lovely place for a day out and you may even learn something along the way. Kew Gardens I don’t know why it is that I always feel the need to justify […]
Resting place of Plantagenet kings, a prison, a cultural centre: the Royal Abbey of Fontevraud has seen it all! A Journey To Fontevraud On a recent visit to France, I got out and about seeing a variety of sights. There was a local street performance festival, and even a day or two of activities relating […]
In this post we explore some of the lesser-known sights in the Loire Valley, in particular a number of sites connected to troglodytes around Rochemenier and Doué-en-Anjou. Who Needs Châteaux When You Have Troglodytes And Roses? When you think of visiting the Loire Valley, what comes to mind? I’m going to guess some of the […]
The Panometer Dresden is a large-scale panorama of the Baroque city. It exists at an interesting intersection of art, history and spectacle. An Unusual Attraction When I was planning my (very limited) time in Dresden, there was one attraction I was intrigued by, but wasn’t sure I would make it to. The Panometer Dresden is […]
A remarkable set of collections and exhibition spaces exists within Dresden’s former Royal Palace, including first and foremost the Green Vault, one of the world’s first public museums. Dresden’s Royal Palace On my day exploring Dresden, my first stop was the Dresdner Residenzschloss. This former palace has been home to many different royals. First the […]
Once the largest of the Codrington family’s 150 Antiguan sugar plantations, Betty’s Hope is today an important place of learning and memory. The Codringtons and Betty’s Hope Perhaps it is not a good idea to start a post about a site such as Betty’s Hope with a history of the enslavers rather than the enslaved. […]
